Curing Your Entomophobia With Cute Bug Pictures

Why do we fear insects? How do we cure this fear? The key is knowing that cute insects exist too!

Backstory

My heart used to break when someone said "bugs are gross". I think insects are some of the coolest and cutest creatures. However, I have since matured and accepted the fact that not all people see insects the same way I do. But why do people hate insects?

We perceive insects as dangerous

It's our survival instinct to fear some of them. Research has shown that people are able to spot spiders and snakes much quicker than mushroom and flowers.

Taiki Chiba

This is a Japanese giant hornet, multiple stings from it can kill a human being. Knowing this, I was scared for my life holding the little guy, but ultimately I was fine. Neither of us had a reason to hurt the other.

Hollywood movies

IMDb / Via imdb.com

Think about it... most insects are monsters in Hollywood movies. Humans are chased and eaten alive by giant insects. IMDb categorizes 74 movies as "killer bug movies". When we spot bugs invading our personal space, we start associating all insects as horror creatures. Although, the new Marvel movie "Ant-Man and the Wasp" is giving me some hope...

Anyways, it's time for cute insect pictures!

Ladybug

Alejandro Ferrer Ruiz / Via 500px.com

Usually called the Ladybird Beetle among entomologists, gardeners ought to love them because they eat aphids, a common garden pest.

Damselfly (Dragonfly)

Alberto Ghizzi Panizza / Via albertoghizzipanizza.com

They're found on every continent except for Antarctica and have been around for at least 250 million years!

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar (Butterfly)

butterfliesandmoths / Via butterfliesandmoths.org

Adult females have chemoreceptors on their front legs, which allow them to detect the chemical makeup of a leaf and judge if it is safe to lay eggs on.

Cockchafer (Beetle)

Zoe Foster / Via buglife.org.uk

The cockchafer beetle almost went extinct in middle of the 20th century due to human's use of pesticides.

Orchid Mantis (Praying Mantis)

paperlief / Via paperlief.com

Can you spot it? Master of camouflage.

Scarab Beetle

allspecies / Via allspecies.wikia.com

Found in the rain forests of Costa Rica, the scarab beetle rolls up into a tiny ball when it senses danger.

Bee

Brian Valentine

#savethebees

Hissing Cockroach

Agustina Lusky / Via Facebook: TheEntomologyGroup

This picture was taken right after molting (shedding of old skin layer). Within a few hours, the skin will harden and turn brown/black

Cross-Eyed Plant Hopper

June Aubrey Young / Via featuredcreature.com

What did evolution do to you buddy?

Cucumber Beetle

snl.salk.edu / Via snl.salk.edu

Ranked #1 on my cutest insect list. However it's a notorious pest for agricultural crops.

Rosy Maple Moth

Warren Krupsaw / Via butterfliesandmoths.org

While a caterpillar, they like to feast on maple tree leaves. They have to eat as much as possible while they still can because the adults don't have mouths!

Golden Tortoise Beetle

Ellen Tan

The golden tortoise beetle has transparent wings and its body changes color as it develops.

At last... Glasswing Butterfly

Scott Wylie / Via Flickr: scotbot

Transparent wings for camouflage purposes. They are sometimes seen in Texas, but good luck spotting it.

This Peacock Spider would like to say a goodbye to you. Thanks for reading :)

peacockspiderman / Via allinadaveswork.tumblr.com

Written by Taiki Chiba, an intern at Chirps Chips (Cricket Tortilla Chips!).